Closer Look at 20" and 21" LCD Monitor Features. Part II. Page 10

This is another article in our series of LCD monitor roundups. Over the next two days we would like to introduce to you 17 monitor models with the 20” and 21” screen targeted for different application fields and hence belonging to different price segments. Today we will look at 9 solutions from Acer, BenQ and NEC.

BenQ FP2091

Unlike its predecessor, this model is a classic 20” model on an S-IPS matrix with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Not so long ago a majority of 20” monitors were made in this form-factor, but now they are being steadily replaced with widescreen models.

Running a little ahead, I want to inform you that the FP2091 is included in this review mostly for the sake of comparison because it has been replaced with the FP2092 model.

With all its external likeness to the FP202W, this monitor looks somewhat less elegant, perhaps due to the silver color of the bezel or to the different aspect ratio. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t look cute to me.

The stand is massive. The screen with all of its 20 inches seems small against that background. It is functional, though, and allows to change the tilt and height of the screen (the latter changes within 14 to 27 cm from the desk to the bottom edge of the screen), to rotate the screen around the vertical axis and to pivot it into the portrait mode. The minimum height of the screen is still quite high, so you may find it difficult to place the screen at a comfortable level if you’ve got a tall desk. You can replace the monitor’s own stand with a standard VESA mount if necessary.

The FP2091 offers a full set of inputs: analog D-Sub, digital DVI-I, composite and S-Video, and USB. The latter is used for the integrated 4-port hub. One of the hub ports is located at the back panel of the monitor, too. Two more are placed on a monitor’s side and the last one is centered at the top of the case (it is obviously meant for a web-camera).

The monitor’s controls are all located on the left side of the case and, like with the FP202W, ergonomics was the last thought on the designer’s mind. You have to turn the monitor round to face its side panel in order to read the labels. It is inconvenient to press the buttons by touch as they are all the same shape and size.